Lightning arrester



Sept' 2, 1941- M. BARBAT, JR 2,254,673 LIGHTNNG ARRESTER i Filed Jan. 3, 1941 2 sheets-sheet 1 A Homey SePt- 2, 1941- M. BARBAT. .1R 2,254,673

LIGHTNING ARRESTER Filed Jan. 5, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 In uenfor AVAVAVAV YAVAVAWAVAVAU 4 y i 4 By Harney Patented Sept. 2, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LIGHTNING ARRESTER Mike Barbat, Jr., Sharon, Pa.

Application January 3, 1941, Serial No. 373,046

4 Claims.

The present invention relates to new and useful improvements in lightning arresters particularly for radio receiving sets and has for its primary object to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a device of this character which will automatically ground the antenna when a storm approaches.

Another very important object of the invention is to provide a lightning arrester of the aforementioned character which may be conveniently adjusted to function at different atmospheric pressures.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a lightning arrester of the character described which will be comparatively simple in construction, strong, durable, highly efficient and reliable in use, compact and which may be manufactured at low cost.

All of the foregoing and still further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a study of the following specification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, and wherein:

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of a lightning arrester constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is a plan view thereof.

Figure 3 is a bottom plan view of the device.

Figure 4 is 4a view in vertical longitudinal section, taken substantially on the line 4-4 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a cross sectional view, taken substantially on the line 5-5 of Figure l.

Figure 6 is a cross sectional view, taken substantially on the line 6 6 of Figure l.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, it will be seen that the embodiment of the invention which has been illustrated comprises an elongated casing which is designated generally by the reference numeral I, said casing being of suitable insulating material, preferablyT porcelain. The bottom of the casing I is open and mounted thereon is a screen 2. On the ends 3 of the c-asing I are integral apertured feet 4 for securely mounting said casing on a support in spaced relation thereto.

Mounted longitudinally in the casing I is a copper tube 5. The tube 5 is firmly secured to the top 6 of the casing I by a ground terminal post 1. Mounted in the tube 5 and projecting beyond the open ends thereof is an elongated, resilient rubber bladder or the like 8. The exterior of the bladder 8 is provided with a coating 9 of suitable current conducting material.

Mounted in the end portions of the casing I are angular brackets I0 of suitable conducting material. The brackets ID are secured in position by binding posts II which pass through the top 6 of the casing I. Mounted longitudinally in the brackets I0 are adjustable contacts I2 which are aligned with the tube 8 but normally spaced from the ends thereof. Openings I3 in the ends 3 of the casing I accommodate the outer end portions of the adjustable contacts I2 and permit access to be readily had thereto.

It is thought that the operation of the device will be readily apparent from a consideration of the foregoing. Briefly, the posts II are electrically connected to the lead-in wire I4 from the antenna I5. The post 'I is electrically connected at I6 with a suitable ground. When a storm approaches and the atmospheric pressure drops the elongated bladder 8, which is confined radially by the copper tube 5, expands longitudinally and the ends thereof engage the contacts I2. Thus, the antenna is grounded through the elements I4, II, I0, I2, 9, 5, 'I and I6 and will remain so until after the storm has passed and the atmospheric pressure again rises. When this occurs the bladder 8 contracts to its normal size out of engagement with the contacts I 2. Lightning, following the path of least resistance, is diverted from the receiving set when the antenna I5 is grounded. By adjusting the contacts I2 various conditions may be easily met. The device is to be mounted on the outside of a house or other building.

It is believed that the many advantages of a lightning arrester constructed in accordance with the present invention will be readily understood and although a preferred embodiment of the device is as illustrated and described, it is to be understood that changes in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to which will fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed is:

l. A lightning arrester comprising a casing, spaced contacts mounted in said casing, an eX- pansible conductor member responsive to atmospheric pressure mounted in the casing for movement of portions of the conductor in opposite directions and engageable with the contacts upon expansion of said member, said member and the contacts being electrically insulated from each other, and means for grounding the expansible member.

2. A lightning arrester comprising a casing, a tube of conducting material mounted in said casing, means for electrically grounding said tube, a pair of contacts, for connection With conductor wires, mounted in the casing, and an expansible conductor member mounted in the tube and responsive to atmospheric pressure for projecting from each end of the tube to engage said contacts.

3. A lightning arrester comprising a casing of insulating material, said casing being open to the atmosphere, brackets mounted in the casing, said brackets of conducting material, binding posts for securing the brackets in position and for electrically connecting said brackets with conductor Wires, electric contacts adjustably mounted in the brackets, a tube of conducting material mounted in the casing between the contacts, means for electrically grounding said tube, and an elongated bladder mounted in the tube and expansible axially thereof for engagement with the contacts, the bladder being responsive to atmospheric pressure, and said bladder including a coating of conducting material.

4. A lightning arrester of the character described comprising an elongated casing of insulating material having an open bottom, a screen on the bottom of the casing, means for securing the casing on a support in spaced relation thereto, said casing including end Walls having openings therein, brackets of conducting material mounted in the end portions of the casing, binding posts securing the brackets in position and further constituting means for electrically connecting said brackets with conductor Wires, electric contacts adjustably mounted in the brackets and having one end portion extending into the openings, a tube of conducting material mounted longitudinally in the casing between the contacts, a binding post securing the tube in the casing and further providing means for ,electrically grounding said tube, and an elongated expansible bladder, responsive to atmospheric pressure, mounted in the tube and eX- pansible axially of the tube for projecting beyond the ends thereof and engageable, upon expansion, with the contacts, said bladder including a coating of conducting material for electrically connecting the contacts with the tube.

MIKE BARBAT, Ja. 

